Jan Gazda, 33, and Lizzie Jones, 29, moved onto a narrowboat five years ago to cut living costs in London. They bought the boat Harvest Moon for £40,000 and live on the Grand Union Canal with their terrier mix Hilda, aged four.
Why they chose a houseboat
Jan was paying about £450 per month for a room and wanted a cheaper alternative. He works in charity and Lizzie freelances in films, so money is tight in the capital. “We just really were looking for other alternatives – how to live a bit cheaper, plus we really always like to be more self-sufficient and live a bit more sustainably,” Jan said. He had lived in a squat in Prague and both had lived in warehouses, so DIY and community living were familiar.
Costs and comforts
The couple pays around £75 a month for bills on board and £3,000 to £5,000 a year on maintenance and upgrades. Their marine mortgage costs about £800 per month at 15 per cent interest, and it is nearly paid off. The boat has a living room with a sofa that folds into a double bed, a kitchen with a gas hob and oven, a 12V fridge, a bathroom with shower and compost toilet, and a bedroom with a double bed.
Challenges of boat life
Jan and Lizzie are 'continuous cruisers', meaning they must find a new mooring every two weeks, which can take hours. Maintenance is tough in cramped conditions, and there is a risk of sinking if something goes wrong. Despite this, Jan said: “At the end we used one of the companies that does boat mortgages. The rate is terrible, but it’s better than paying rent.”
